This morning we awoke to the most wondrous sight. From Lisianski Inlet we looked across Cross Sound to bright sunshine on the spectacular Fairweather Range. Mount Fairweather towers over 15,000 feet above the sea and is covered by glaciers and perpetual snow. It is a rare day, indeed, that we get such a glorious view of this part of Alaska, British Columbia and Glacier Bay National Park. Because of the beautiful weather and flat, calm of the Pacific, we were able to visit Flat Top Island where we saw sea otters, harbor seals, nesting black-legged kittiwakes, and both horned and tufted puffins with the backdrop of the Fairweathers.

After a delicious deck barbecue in the bright sunshine, the Sea Lion came alongside the dock at the tiny hamlet of Elfin Cove, Alaska. This town of 50 year-round residents is accessible only by boat or by floatplane. We strolled up the boardwalk surrounding the village and visited the general store, talked to the local characters, bought salmonberry jam from the kids and sent cards and letters from the Elfin Cove post office. Because of the exceptional weather we spent the rest of the day cruising near the outer coast, visiting the Inian Islands and beautiful Dundas Bay.Larry Hobbs, Naturalist

Morning Commute

A good while back I decided to take the 4 to 8 watch on a regular basis. Some days I wonder what possessed me to do this, especially when the alarm clock goes off at 0315 after a bumpy night of positioning. And then there are mornings like this one. I arose from the cabin, opened the door to a clear sky with a near full moon, and as I turned to the bridge I noticed the beginnings of alpenglow on the northern peaks of Baranof. As I completed my five-step commute, a clear view of the Fairweather range stopped me in my tracks. They were all pink and seemed so close that I could almost touch them. The mountains stayed with us all morning as we shot through North Inian at 15 knots and across Cross Sound which was more like a lake. It was so calm we wandered into Lisianski Inlet for wakeup, back to flat top for pre-breakfast puffins and have spent the morning hiking on George Island and Zodiac cruising around the area. Life is Good! Barbeque on deck as we move over to Elfin Cove. After town time we're off eastbound in Icy Strait to look for mammals of any size. Glacier Bay Day tomorrow!